Paris Hilton wows Turkey with belly dance 30 - 03 -08

In the Pink , Belly dancers raise money for National breast cancer Foundation, Manjimup Western Australia. By Dev13-12-07

Inspiration Festival Mooloolaba Primary School,Sunshine Coast 21.10.07 By Cara 12-12-07

60 and Better, Seniors enjoy an evening with Belly Dance (6-08-07)

The "Lovely Ladies" of "60 and Better" changed into their costumes and did their makeup in a tiny room. Much laughter and nervous anticipation. Then they filed into the Activities room where the audience waited; most of them had never seen Bellydance before. There was a gasp as the veils were removed and the spangles and glitter were revealed.We showed the warm up exercises and then three dances, to loud applause and appreciation. After it was all over and photos taken, we went back to the small room again and they discovered the 'high' that comes with performing.I think they are all keen to experience this again.

Belly dancing her way to happiness (26- 07- 07)

Tami Morgan, aka Amunet, has developed confidence, a sense of family and a growing audience of fans and students as she pursues her love of belly dancing at the drum circle on Casey Key.

ENGLEWOOD -- Six years ago, a friend told Tami Morgan about something called the drum circle and urged her to check it out. The experience changed her life. "I just fell in love with the dancers out here, because I was so shy, believe it or not," Morgan said at a recent drum circle gathering on Casey Key, off Albee Road in Nokomis. "I thought it would be so nice to just get out there and dance like that and not be so inhibited."

Source- Sun Herald

The tribal streak (13- 07- 07)

Awatef is a belly-dancer. Unlike the American icon and teacher Morocco who insists on the term raqs sharqi (Oriental dance), she doesn't object to the designation. Her name would sound sufficiently grassroots in an Egyptian context: old-fashioned it certainly is, but, by itself, it has no particular associations of class or profession. No less than her clothes, on this occasion, her second name, Eshta, casts her rather more clearly in the role of performer and teacher: the word, meaning "cream", is a largely common reference to fair-skinned corpulence of the female order -- common in both senses of the word. The story fits together, all things considered, except for one small detail: Awatef Eshta is not Egyptian at all, not even Middle Eastern; like Morocco, her interest in Oriental dance has less to do with perpetuating than transcending the gendered norms of this all but risqué performance tradition; and there are quite a few other things she does besides

Source Al Ahram weekly on-line

Monaco's Prince Albert enjoys belly dancing (6- 04 -06)

Prince Albert of Monaco has spent Friday night at a famous nightclub called 'Cahide in Istanbul together with his 35 bodyguards. Dancing along with belly dancers, the Prince mounted 50 Euros on the bellies of two dancers. Prince Albert enjoys belly dancing!

Turkish clubbers were surprised to see Monaco's Albert arriving at one of Istanbul's most famous night clubs 'Cahide' on Friday night. After the CIESM Congress held in Istanbul, the prince and his 35 bodyguards enjoyed belly dancers at Cahide; one of the most 'in' night clubs of the country famous with its live shows.

"Prince Albert enjoyed Turkish food, especially 'dolma dish' and 'manti'(Turkish ravioli), he ate two full plates of both dishes, told Izzet Çapa, owner of Cahide and many other restaurants in Istanbul. "He asked if there are belly dancers in Cahide. Normally Cahide offers different live shows other than belly dancers, but we quickly brought two belly dancers from one of my other clubs; 'Al Jamal' exclusively for the majesty," Çapa said. "Prince Albert danced along with belly dancers and mounted 50 Euros on their bellies."

Source- http://english.sabah.com.tr/32F634ECE7C540238243741324C6CFD3.html

Physical and emotional challenges in learning Middle Eastern Dance (21- 02 -07)

The student in Middle Eastern dance faces many physical and emotional challenges. The body and mind must be tamed to layer and twist itself, with precision and grace, to the heavily percussive music from the Middle East making this study as profound and mysterious as its history.

Spanning back to the beginning of our civilization, this history wants and can be told a million and one ways. This is a story that grows with each dancer’s victories and failures over the body and spirit. While the mind learns to control the body, it also learns to release inhibitions and insecurities.

The basic technique can take years to make natural to the body. Physically, like any professional dance, Middle Eastern dance requires musicality, coordination, grace and presentation. Of particular interest to Middle Eastern dance is deep muscle isolation, the layering of movement and an intense interaction to the music and to the audience. However, the bigger challenge and lure for the student in Middle Eastern dance is not physical skill, as noted by the panel of dancers that were interviewed in this article.

To view the full contents of the article please click here

Source- thisbusinessofdanceandmusic.com

• The University of Sydney Union and Sydney University Sport both offering belly dancing courses (25-01-06)
  

The University of Sydney Union and Sydney University Sport both offer belly dancing courses that run throughout the semester. They are run on different days and at different times, so your timetable will usually dictate which one you can go to.

To enrol phone the University Sports & Aquatic Centre on (02) 9351 4978

• A whole lot of shakin' going on ( 8- 01- 07)

ARTICLE BY - Ken Thurman

Over at the Rensselaer Area Senior Service Center, belly dancing has become the latest craze with those up in years who are looking for a fun way to wiggle their way into shape. Enter Lynn Buell, a belly dancer also known as Meridya. "It's extremely good exercise, it's low impact and you use just about every muscle in your body," said Buell, a Schenectadian who's been teaching classes twice weekly at the center for about the past six months. "It also helps improve posture." All of her students at the center are 60 or older and at least one is 90 -- and they all look forward to the class, she said.

To view the full contents of the article plese click here.

Source- timesunion.com

• Festival folk weigh up vibes

Iain Shedden, Music writer December 16, 2006

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IT'S a little known fact that one of the benefits of going to summer music festivals is the ability to lose weight.

At least, that's one of the incentives being touted by the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland. The six-day gathering north of Brisbane, which begins on December 27, is one of the many events that will attract thousands of rock, pop and folk fans over the holiday period.

Woodford's theory is that the combination of yoga, belly dancing and healthy food that comes with the 1800 or so performances can help the waistline as well as easing the furrowed brow.

Promoter Bill Hauritz wasn't prepared to back up the weight-loss theory yesterday, but he is enjoying the interest in his festival through ticket sales.

The festival has been running for 21 years, and is as popular with artists as it is with the fans. This year's line-up includes local bands the John Butler Trio and Youth Group, and overseas acts such as US guitarist Kaki King.

"Every year we make improvements and we think this year will be our best," Hauritz said. "We turn away as many as 1000 performers who want to play here every year."

Source - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20935658-16947,00.html

• 'Belly twins' rock Hollywood (24-11-06)

The Belly Twins, Indian Punjabi girls whose real names are Neena and Veena (they don’t want to reveal their surnames) are on a roll these days — they are rocking Hollywood.

The identical sisters — voted America's sexiest twins — already have a long list of admirers and a celebrity fan list that's as long as the distance from Patiala to Pennsylvania.

Their song and dance routine has hypnotised the West, enough to have the likes of Jenna Elfman and Steven Tyler, legendary front man of Aerosmith, and current Latino flavour Ricky Martin rooting for the girls , who have featured in the videos of these stars and performed in hundreds of international shows.

In fact, so pervasive has been their influence on contemporary dance forms that they are credited with popularising and bringing into the mainstream belly dancing in America. Those in entertainment circles say Britney Spears and Shakira, too, haven't remained unaffected by what Neena and Veena dish out. How could they? Some of the 12 fitness videos they have starred in have had long runs on Billboard Top Ten charts, selling over 4 million copies worldwide.

Now considered to be a part of the Hollywood A-list, it hasn't been an easy ride for the girls, though. "In the entertainment field, it's not easy to be a working performer for anyone, especially Indian women. Thousands of people come to Hollywood every week to become a star," Veena told TOI in an e-mail.

"Neena and I have been very lucky to constantly get work as actors, singers, voice-over artists and, of course, dancers. It was a very hard climb for us in the beginning."

They are also branching into the animation business. "We will have a television show ready by next year," says Neena even as she describes her performances abroad as "Bollywood extravaganza with a Las Vegas twist". Asked how they got hooked to belly dancing, hooking large hordes of the glitterati in the process, they say,” We started belly dancing as an exercise, when everyone said it would not work (as money spinning showbiz item). But today belly dancing is a multi-million dollar industry." That they have incorporated "Indian influences" in their dance has only added to the exotic element of the twin package.

They say it's obvious as they have grown up listening to "Bollywood music" and dancing to various Hindi and Punjabi numbers. The sisters, who have choreographed in a number of Hindi movies and done a theatre show called 'Hooray for Bollywood', insist they'd love to work in Hindi movies.

Punjab, however, is never far from their hearts. "Even though we were born and raised in California, we always think of India as home and maintain our faith in Sikhism," Neena says, as Veena adds, "Chandigarh is one of our favourite places. We have relatives in Punjab whom we visit every year."

This article has been edited by devs, To view the full contents of the article please visit the following link.

Source

http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Punjabi_belly_twins_rock_hollywood/articleshow/547597.cms

• Turkish delight ( 9 - 11 - 06)

Article by Richard Burnett.

Photo Courtesy -Google Image

I learnt how to belly dance one drunken night in Turkey with my best friend Seb from Istanbul when she and I dropped tens of thousands of liras in a boozy nightclub in the coastal town of Marmaris many years ago.

Belly dancers team up (26-10-06)

WHEN the competitors strutted their stuff in the eighth annual Belly Dance Awards in Sydney last weekend, two women stood out, not just because they are class acts, but because they perform together.

One is an Israeli Jew the other a Lebanese Christian – both suffered similar trauma from the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli-born Sarit Krcmar watched in fear as Hezbollah dispatched volleys of Katyusha rockets into northern Israel, where her family resides.

Sahara Lahoud was actually in Lebanon when the war broke, and was trapped there with thousands of Australians.

Most of Krcmar’s family resides in Israel’s north, in Kiryat Shmona and Nahariya.

“I was terribly worried about my family back in Israel,” she says, “and, at the same time, very concerned for the Lebanese people I know who were in Lebanon at the time.”

Lahoud returned to Australia via Cyprus, leaving her fiancé and relatives behind.

“I was very traumatised by it all,” she recalls. “I heard that Sarit is also devastated and I had the need to call her as soon as I got back.”

Krcmar said: “Sahara was telling me how she could still hear the sound of the fighter jets and it took me back to my childhood in Kiryat Shmona, when the sound of planes flying low meant war.”

The pair met a few years ago at the belly-dancing school at which they practise.

Krcmar started learning belly dancing 13 years ago, a hobby that gradually turned into a career after she began performing with Troop Dance, a belly-dancing group. She progressed to solo performances in festivals, restaurants and nightclubs as well as to teaching belly dancing.

Lahoud was drawn to belly dancing at a young age. Her father was among some of the finest Arabic musicians to work in Sydney’s nightclubs and her childhood was filled with music. She began to perform in public after a few months of intense belly-dancing classes. She also teaches and is part owner of a belly-dance boutique.

As both were invited to perform at the annual Belly Dance Awards, the two women decided to produce a joint performance.

“I had already started to choreograph something else but the circumstances changed my mind,” says Lahoud. “I simply felt that doing something with Sarit was a must.”

During the performance, a slideshow of images from both countries appeared in the background as an Israeli song played in Hebrew and Arabic.

“I feel very much at home with Sahara,” says Krcmar. “She is bubbly, warm and straightforward, which is so familiar to me.”

Adds Lahoud: “It seems like Lebanon and Israel share a lot of similarities.”

Both says they are positive about peace in the Middle East.

“But it will only happen if we all ... realise that, at the end of the day, we all want the same thing – to live our lives peacefully.”

Article by LIORA ENGLER Source - http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=1818

Belly Dancing for Beginners (25-Oct-06) Part 1

Gayle had cried so long and so hard that her face burned, her throat ached and her body felt drained by the intensity of her emotions. She had wept for the loss of her daughter, the yawning gap of the future, and the leaden sense of hopelessness that had overtaken her. And she had wept with anxiety over the wedding and particularly the explosive potential of the drinking that took Brian and his brothers to the edge of aggression and sometimes beyond it.

Was the dancing the catalyst for this outpouring of grief and anxiety? From the first few drumbeats the rhythmic liquidity of Marissa's movements had sent a shiver through Gayle's body. And as her eyes followed the rotating hips and shoulders, the undulating belly, the graceful snake-like arms, she too had surrendered briefly to the powerful energy of the dance. She had only seen a belly dancer once before; a pale, skinny girl whose gestures were overtly sexual and who had cavorted through a Perth restaurant targeting the best looking men with her pelvic thrusts. She had thought it tasteless and embarrassing, almost as embarrassing as if the restaurant had employed a stripper. So she'd been both surprised and a little disappointed when Angie had said she'd like a belly dancer at her hens' night. The idea seemed vaguely tacky, but Gayle had bitten back the urge to question it — after all, she knew very little about what women in their twenties enjoyed these days.

At the end of the first dance there had been a brief silence, a silence as significant as the rapturous applause that followed, and Marissa had settled cross-legged on the steps and talked about the origins and traditions of the dance. Lying now with a cool, damp towel over her eyes to stop them burning, Gayle could see her there again, calm and authorative, talking about a celebration of female sexuality, and the sensuousness and the self-possession of the dancer being the key to its power. Once again she saw the roomful of women rise to their feet; she felt Trisha's hand pulling her up, felt the movement of the women's bodies, saw the swaying jean-clad hips, the swirl of skirts, and Tony's mother's arthritic fingers curled with unusual grace. Self-consciousness and embarrassment evaporated as they swayed and turned together in time to the music. Then Marissa had taken Angie by the hand, draped a glittering silver veil across her shoulders and shown her the steps for the bridal dance.

Cont to next page

Belly Dancing for Beginners Part 2

"It was wonderful," Trisha said to Marissa later, watching as she rolled her costume into a soft calico bag. "You were fabulous, magnificent ... Honestly, I was blown away — we all were."

Marissa grabbed her hair in her hands and pulled it through a scrunchie. "Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it." She turned to Gayle. "They all danced. Once they see it and understand what it means, women usually do want to give it a go."

Gayle blushed. "I feel really stupid ... I'd no idea."

"Don't apologise," Marissa said, struggling back into her leathers. "Very few people know anything about Middle Eastern dance or its meaning. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Your daughter's gorgeous. The wedding's on Saturday?" Gayle nodded. "Well, have a lovely day."

She reached into a pocket inside her bag. "I'll just give you these cards," she said, handing a few to Gayle and Trisha, and to Sonya, who had now appeared in the bedroom doorway. "In case you ever feel like doing some more dancing, I run classes. Beginners always on Wednesday evenings from seven to nine, and Saturday mornings. The details are on the card." She handed over some vouchers. "Come along and see if you like it," she said.

Sonya looked at the voucher. "Yes," she said, "I'll give it a go. You've inspired me."

"Me too," Trisha said. "We'll be there sometime soon, won't we, Gayle?"

Gayle's breath seemed trapped in her throat.

"Course we will,"Trisha continued.

"Some women find it creates a bit of change for them," Marissa said with a smile at Gayle. "And it's great exercise too. It was lovely to meet you. I'll get out of your way now."

They watched her climb onto the motorbike, heard the engine kick into action, and gazed after her as she roared off down the quick street.

"That was amazing," Sonya murmured as the tail lights of the bike disappeared around the corner. "What a fabulous woman ..."

"And the mix," Trisha agreed. "I mean, the bike and the leathers and the dancing." She paused. "I'm up for it. Why don't the three of us go together?"

Gayle had bitten her lip and said nothing, slipping the card in her pocket as Trisha and Sonya swapped phone numbers. Now, hours later, she hated herself: her caution, the emotional and physical rigidity carved into her body. And she knew that, fascinated as she had been by her brief encounter with the awesome energy of Marissa's dance, she would not risk encountering it again.

Source http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=144152

fantastic cultural dance show "Bellydance Superstars" (18-OCT-06)

The Bellydance Superstars bring their enthralling performances and mesmerizing choreography to the Rex Theatre in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, November 14,

Comprised of America’s best-known, most sought-after bellydancers – many of whom are expert bellydance instructors – the invigorating troupe is the only professional dance company of its kind on tour, making their performances and workshops popular affairs. The dancers themselves come from a variety of dance backgrounds ranging from Egyptian, Mexican, Latin, Classical Ballet, jazz and others. Critics and fans alike note it is the star power of the individual dancers that differentiate the Bellydance Superstars from touring troupes with faceless unknowns. Each dancer has its own individual fan base as the brand of the troupe is simultaneously being built.

Performing a cross-section of Tribal, Egyptian and Cabaret styles, the Bellydance Superstars exhibit an intoxicating spectacle that transports the audience to a distant time and place while stimulating all the senses. Taking an ancient art form into the mainstream, they have garnered international acclaim from critics (Rolling Stone, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, DesiXpress), instructors, dancers and fans alike.

Picture curtesy Google Images

The troupe’s new show, “Raqs Carnivale,” features all new choreography, costumes and production. Dressed in luxurious colorful costumes led by main choreographer and artistic director Jillina, the dancers beautifully display the true art of bellydance. The exotic sounds of haunting melodies echo throughout each venue during each show, and the dancers perform in front of an amazing backdrop with washes of lighting and flame-effects.

Over half a million people were first exposed to the Bellydance Superstars on the Lollapalooza rock tour in 2003 following auditions in 2002. That auspicious beginning led to many achievements, including a stint at the famed Folies Bergere in Paris in 2005 that garnered rave reviews and standing room only crowds. The Bellydance Superstars have truly set a new standard for bellydance and proved, without a doubt, its wide appeal to a Western audience.

“The essence of this dance lies in hypnotising by the beauty of movement” (10-10-06)

(This Interview first published in Sur (21st of Sep-06) with Esther Alcántara , an expert oriental dancer and teacher. She first fell in love with oriental dance at a wedding in Morocco )

ESTHER Alcántara, ‘Esalim’, what does it mean?

I was searching for an artistic name and couldn’t find any I was comfortable with: Yamila, Yasmin, Nadila... all used too much in the past. Then my brother-in-law asked why not Esalim. It’s an anagram of my real name, Esther Alcántara Infante, changing the m to n in Infante. And without the E, it reads Salim, which is a real Arabic name.

The belly dance, like all dance forms, is a non-verbal communication is it?….

Yes, that’s true. It is a form of expression that is almost exclusively feminine. It was originally a maternity dance, with its hip, belly and pelvis movements. Some writings suggest it was designed to alleviate the pain of childbirth, and other sources say it was an offering to the god of fertility.

You say almost exclusive to women. Does that mean men do it too?

Some men do it. In fact, two of the great masters of the art these days are men, who do the classical oriental dance, more typical of women.

Is what they do sensual?

I prefer women dancing it. The true essence of the dance can only be done by women, I believe. These days oriental dance is very westernised, and people demand more spectacle and too much movement. But the essence of the dance is that its does not involve a great deal of movement, a small, undulating movement that hypnotises by the its beauty rather than by the amount of movement. It is more suggestive than overt.

What does this dance try to tell us?

Everything. For example, the Haligi is a kind of folk dance from the Persian Gulf, in which movement of the head and hair is very important. It is used to drive away evil spirits, and is used in exorcisms. In other cases, it was used to put the dancers into a trance. In classical oriental dance, the most important is the hip movement, although every part of the body has to be moved as well, from the head to the toes. In general, the movement of the hips and arms is the most important. The arms frame and add to the beauty of the hip movements.

And how did Esther Alcántara become Esalim?

In a curious way. I had never thought of doing this professionally, but had always loved to dance. I was the typical dancer at weddings, communions and baptisms, and I was invited to the wedding of a friend of mine in Morocco. There I saw how beautiful oriental dance is, and while I was trying to dance like the Moroccans, they were telling me I was good at it.

They discovered you!

Yes, I suppose they did. I had always liked to dance in long dresses that showed my tummy, and this was it. I came back to Malaga and went to a show by an Algerian dancer, and was fascinated by her. I couldn’t take my eyes off her while she danced. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It took a long time to find a teacher, and finally found an Israeli dancer willing to teach me, named Mor Abohav, who now lives in Marbella. I owe everything I know to her.

The Shakira phenomenon…how much has she influenced oriental dance in the west?

A lot. Oriental dance is becoming more and more popular in the west all the time. I think this is due to two things: natural relaxation, yoga, oriental philosophy and all that, and Shakira. She is technically very good, and mixes oriental dance with pop in a beautiful way, although pop is different.

Although many people don’t know the difference...

It’s true, many people believe she is doing oriental dance. I always worry when somebody comes along wanting to dance like Shakira.

You cannot perform miracles.

No, that’s not it. It’s that I don’t teach Shakira’s form of dancing, or even use her music in my teaching. What we do can appear quite similar, but it is different. Some people came along with Shakira in mind, but they soon learn to appreciate and love the true oriental dance form much more.

Have people fallen in love with you, watching you dance?

You always get people whistling and so on, of course, but it is usually the looks on the faces that tell how people feel about this dance, rather than the words they speak. It is all about body movement, and I believe women are more attracted to it than men. They see the art in it, and they fall in love with it.

Flat belly, well rounded or it doesn’t matter?

I used to think it was better to be a little rounded, but then changed my mind. It really doesn’t matter what shape the belly is for a belly dancer. The undulating movement tends to suit flat bellies, and ‘shimis’ are best done by women with rounded bellies.

What are Shimis?

Vibrations. It does not matter what age or shape the dancer is, as long as they know how to move. It is not the stomach one is watching: it is the movement of the stomach and the entire body.

Is it true to say that we are afraid to move our hips?

Yes, very true. The pelvis is made up of muscles that people tend not to use much. It is important to learn posture and how to move the pelvis if one wants to learn to dance.

Always barefooted?

I like to dance barefooted, and originally it was always so. But there is open debate about it. Some say the dancer needs to make contact with the ground, and others say they danced barefooted because they couldn’t afford shoes.

Source - http://www.surinenglishom

Beautiful bellies (4-10- 06)

• Beautiful Bellies.

Belly dancing can be a good workout, self-esteem boost "We tend to get really friendly here," said Jane Sutton as she straightened the scarf-draped hips of one of her students. The other students in her Wednesday night belly dancing class laughed knowingly as they stood in a circle, making slow figure-8s with their hips. A Middle Eastern melody with a strong beat poured out of the stereo in the corner of Sutton's dance studio while the seven women undulated uncertainly. It was only their second class together, but they chatted and joked like old friends. It's part of the mystique of belly dance, a dance that Sutton says is really "mainly for other women." It's gaining popularity across the country, and not just because of the colorful costumes and sinuous choreography. Many dancers believe it's a great workout, too, and a self-esteem builder for women uncomfortable with their bodies. "It's good for all sizes, all shapes, all ages," said Sutton, who teaches belly dance at her Casper studio. "The benefits are so far-reaching. If you're uncoordinated, it'll help you become coordinated. If you lack rhythm, it'll develop it. If you have low self-esteem, it'll help you feel better about yourself." The style of belly dance Sutton teaches is an American version of Egyptian cabaret dancing. The women were in constant motion, swaying their hips, parading in a circle and gently waving their arms. "Every muscle group is being worked," said Sutton. "Next to swimming, belly dance is one of the most complete workouts you can find -- we're even working our toes and our fingertips." As the hour-long class went on, the students started breaking a sweat. After Sutton added arm movements to the dance, there were comments about burning arm muscles and loosened-up hips. "My first teacher called it 'pumping chiffon' when we did veil work," Sutton said. "It felt like you just did two hours of weights. "It's especially good for your quads and hamstrings, and obviously your belly. Your core is getting an intense workout." Belly dance's effectiveness as exercise is reflected in its popularity on the home fitness market. A search of Amazon.com for "belly dance" brings up three pages of matches -- books, videos, CDs and clothing. Some of the dance's benefits are more easily found in the studio, though. The warm environment in Sutton's class helped erase self-consciousness. The students complimented each other throughout the class, and shared tips and colorful scarves. "I think it should be a requirement for young women so they can appreciate their bodies and avoid some of these destructive eating patterns," Sutton said. "It's a wonderful, joyful thing to do," said Kat Fullmer, 49, one of Sutton's students. "It helps you release your inhibitions, and it brings women together. ... You see how we laugh and have a good time." "Jane makes me feel really comfortable, said Sherrie, 51, who declined to give her last name. "She'll grab you and show you, 'This is how you do it.'" Sutton, who said she's been belly dancing for 13 years, is committed to spreading the word about belly dance. She also teaches a belly dance class at Casper College on the weekends, and performs with another dancer as the Desert Stars. She said she wants to start a student troupe to perform around town. Those students could eventually join the Desert Stars after they get experience, she said. "It takes a really good, solid two years to get adept, technically speaking," she said. And if there are any Middle-Eastern-dancing men out there, Sutton would like to hear from you. "We're always looking for a good male dancer," she said. "(The men's) version has a more masculine feel. We don't want the men mimicking the women because, let's face it, it wouldn't look good." That's because belly dance celebrates a woman's hips and curves. As Sutton put it to her class last week, "All your goodies are gonna shake. That's the way it is."

Source

http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com

Susan Sarandon suffered a freak back injury - while belly dancing!!! (13 - 08 - 06)

Susan Sarandon was working at Doris and Bernard, in which she portraits the Tobacco billionaires Doris Duke. So the actress had to learn the socialite's hobby: Belly dancing.

Sarandon claims she really enjoyed learning the exotic art but has now had to give it up after she was left writhing in agony after twisting her lower back trying out an ambitious move.

'It's wonderful, very liberating, but I threw myself into it a bit too much. I did something one night to my back and that was the end of it. I was in such pain. I'm such a type A personality that I did it with such a vengeance that I almost crippled myself.' The Actress revealed.

However, the 'Thelma and Louise' star insists Belly dancing is great way to keep in shape and hasn't ruled out taking it up again when she recovers from her injury.

She added: 'It's a marvellous way to keep supple. We'd do it at our home in New York, and all my friends would take part, as well as my lovely housekeeper.'

Sources http://people.monstersandcritics.com/

Egyptian belly dance 'in crisis' (12July2006)

This article first published in BBC website by Malcom Brabant , probably you have seen the article floating around in many websites. In the article reporter Malcom Braban explained the lack of appreciation of Belly Dancing in its origin country .

Exponents of the art of belly dancing - a unique element of Egypt's national cultural heritage - believe it is undergoing a crisis and is in danger of being driven underground. Two years ago, the government banned foreign dancers from performing, but has recently done a U-turn and allowed them back.

One of the country's former belly dancing divas, Nagwa Fouad, is now calling for the establishment of an academy to preserve the art. Dressed in a turquoise harem outfit, Iranian-born Liza Laziza practices in her studio high above the Corniche alongside the River Nile.

Liza is a world-renowned belly dancer who came to Cairo five years ago to fulfil a dream of living where her art began many centuries ago. Even to my unpractised eye, it is clear she is a fine exponent, combining grace, interpretation and sensuality.

Declining art

But Liza has not performed on one of Egypt's great dancing stages for two years.

"The dance, from what I see, is at the moment rapidly fading in the background, whereas before, it was right up front," she says. "It's very serious and I'm part of what's going on. I'm part of the big decline that's going on in the dance."

During the ban on foreign dancers, Liza was forced to teach for a living. Now she is free to perform again, but she has had trouble finding a suitable platform for her talent.

"Egypt has been the central nervous system of the dance for a long time now," she says. "It's not as great as it used to be and that's because of the climate of the times, socially, economically, religiously.

"And there isn't any education on the dance in Egypt, so I really do predict it fading into the background as we speak."

'Part of Egypt'

One of Liza's students is a Saudi Arabian woman who must be in her 50s, who has taken up the dance for the benefit of her husband. She prefers to remain anonymous for fear of shocking relatives in her arch-conservative homeland.

"Like the Sphinx or pyramids, belly dancing is part of Egyptian culture and it would be a shame to lose it," she says.

On board a Nile river boat, about 200 tourists are taking a two-hour-long supper cruise. The highlight of the evening's entertainment is supposed to be a demonstration of belly dancing by a 27-year-old Egyptian dancer called Wafaa Fowzi. To borrow the words of Jerry Lee Lewis, there's a whole lotta shaking going on - but none of the sinewy grace of Liza Laziza.

Miss Fowzi believes that Miss Laziza and her Saudi Arabian pupil are scare-mongering.

Brilliant moves

"I'm not worried about the dance. It can't really die out in Egypt. It's an important part of our popular heritage," she says. Nagwa Fouad used to be one of Egypt's belly dancing divas. She is of indeterminate age, and went into retirement about five years back.

Madame Nagwa is very worried that subtleties of an art dating back to Pharonic times are being lost and she wants Egypt to set up a national academy to teach the dance properly.

"What you are seeing nowadays is just shaking, which is very Turkish," she says. "Egyptian dancing has many more brilliant movements, which is why there must be an academy to teach it, where I could lend my expertise."

But belly dancers here worry no one will take heed and that their cultural heritage will be consigned to history along with the pyramids, Tutankhamen and that great seductress Cleopetra.